Finnish natural and cultural heritage in abundance

An inspiring landscape

Koli National Park Photo: Marko Haapalehto

Koli National Park in North Karelia is one of Finland’s most dramatic landscapes. It inspired composer Jean Sibelius and many other artists. The terrain is varied, and the flora and fauna very diverse. The cliff tops are rugged, and the most famous lookout, Ukko-Koli, offers a magnificent view to the east towards Lake Pielinen. Camping is permitted in marked areas and various other types of accommodation are available in the area.

Suitable for all ages all year round. Some parts are accessible to people with disabilities.

Natural wonders near the city

Nuuksio National ParkPhoto: Katri Lehtola/Metsähallitus

It is rare in Europe for a national park to be so close to a capital city. The area has remained uninhabited because its difficult bogs and cliffs are unsuitable for agriculture. Nuuksio’s lakes, forests, valleys, swamps and cliffs provide the perfect hiking environment. Visit the Finnish Nature Centre in Haltia to discover all of Finland’s natural habitats in one place.

Suitable for all ages. Part of the area is wheelchair-accessible.

Enjoy the exotic wilderness

Oulanka National ParkPhoto: Minna Koramo

Oulanka National Park is bordered on the east by Russia’s own Paanajärvi National Park. The northern landscape is dominated by pine forests and river valleys with sandy banks. You can walk over suspension bridges and listen to roaring rapids. The routes for hiking vary from short day trails to the 82-kilometer (about 50-mile) Bear Trail, one of Finland’s most popular hiking trails. You can also travel by kayak, cycle, ski or snowshoe. Most of the sights are located within a few kilometres by foot or canoe. One of the routes is accessible.

See the effects of the Ice Age

The Kvarken Archipelago Photo: Eva Ramstedt

Kvarken is the narrow middle section of the Gulf of Bothnia. Its Finnish-language name, Merenkurkku, means “throat of the sea”. The archipelago exemplifies the phenomenon of land uplift since the last Ice Age. Today, the land is rising by about eight millimetres annually, expanding the area by about 100 hectares every year.

The Kvarken Archipelago is Finland’s only Natural World Heritage Site on the Unesco List. It forms a geological entity with Sweden’s World Heritage Site Höga Kusten.

Most of the sights can be reached by car or boat. Certain routes are wheelchair accessible.

The beauty of wood

Petäjävesi Old Church Photo: Ismo Pekkarinen/Lehtikuva

The Old Church in Petäjävesi, central Finland, represents the long tradition of log construction and Lutheran church architecture. The church was built from 1763 to 1765, and its appearance has remained almost unchanged since then. The old church is still used during the summer.

Industrial history from the 19th century

Verla Groundwood and Board Mill Photo: Pekka Sakki/Lehtikuva

The Verla wood pulping mill and cardboard factory is a unique World Heritage Site. The factory milieu in southeastern Finland has been preserved in its original form, surrounded by a residential area for workers. Exhibitions, an ironworks, village shops, a café and a wine shop complete the atmosphere. Guests can stay overnight in former millworkers’ houses in a late 19th-century setting, in a traditional lumberjack’s hut or in newer wooden cottages. You can also see prehistoric rock paintings by the river.

People with reduced mobility can participate in part of the standard tour.

The most popular national park in Finland

Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park Photo: Otto Ponto/Lehtikuva

The northernmost part of this national park is located in the far-northern municipality of Enontekiö, part of the homeland of the indigenous Sámi people. The landscape of Pallas-Yllästunturi is dominated by a chain of fells about a hundred kilometres long. There are 25 open wilderness huts in the park and nearby.

In wintertime, the highland of the national park is perfect for cross-country skiing, along trails with a total length of 500 kilometres (about 310 miles). The legendary 55-kilometer (about 34-mile) Hetta-Pallas trail runs through the landscape and is the oldest marked hiking trail in Finland. There are also a number of marked mountain bike routes in the area.

Island hopping

The Archipelago Trail Photo: Juho Kuva

The Archipelago Trail is a popular way to explore the archipelago of southwestern Finland by car or bicycle. Island hopping is one of the things that makes this route special – there are nine ferries and numerous bridges. All except one of the ferries are free of charge. Along the way, you experience the stunning archipelago scenery, restaurants and farm shops and enjoy the sea breeze. The length of the trip is 250 kilometres (155 miles).

Everyday life at a World Heritage Site

Suomenlinna FortressPhoto: iStock

Suomenlinna is a sea fortress located approximately one kilometre (about 0.6 miles) off the coast of Helsinki. It is one of Finland’s most popular tourist destinations, receiving a million visitors in a typical year. Cafés and restaurants abound, and various cultural events take place throughout the seasons. Suomenlinna is also a district of Helsinki with about 800 residents.

Some parts of area are wheelchair-accessible, but the terrain can be challenging.

Ancient history in rock

Hossa National ParkPhoto: Ismo Pekkarinen/Lehtikuva

Hossa National Park is situated in the northern part of Suomussalmi, a municipality in eastern Finland. Its varied terrain contains about 130 lakes and ponds, separated by several ridges. Besides enjoying the magnificent wilderness, you can see traces of life that are thousands of years old: the rock paintings at Julma-Ölkky and Värikallio depict stories based in shamanism.

Hossa National Park is excellent for families with children. It provides versatile services for people with disabilities.

By Päivi Leinonen, ThisisFINLAND Magazine